Drying pad for pianos



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,004

F. c. BlLLlNGs DRYING PAD FOR PIANOS Filed Sept. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet1 fia.

Nov. 22, 1927.

1650 oo4` l F. c. BILLINGs DRYING PAD FOR PIANOS Filed sept. 1s. 192s l2 sheets-sheet 2 Q e Q S e e J lll/1111111111.

Patented Nov. ZZ, 1927.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK C. BILLINGS, F MIAMI, FLORIDA..

DRYING PAD FOR PIANOS.

Application led September 16, 1926.l Serial No. 135,788.

My invention relates to improvementsl in drying pads for pianos, and hasfor its primary object a pad which is designed to be placed in pianos,and especially for preventing moisture from beingY absorbed by the pinblock and the hammer mechanism, thereby preventing the piano fromgetting out of pitch 'and also preventing the sticking of the keys.

By preventing the accumulation of moisture in the working parts of thepiano, these parts are always maintained y. in the ysame conditionaswhen they leave the factory and since both the pin block and the majorportion of the key mechanism are all constructed of wood, any absorptionof moisture by these parts causes swelling. In the pin block, thisswelling will in time affect the holes inv which the tuning pins aredriven and cause the pins to become loosened so that the piano will nothold its pitch." In the `keyboard mechanism the parts are fittedfairlyclose together and any swelling causes a sticking of the keys andhammers and revente them from repeating rapidly. In ot er words, the keywill have a sluggish return action and at times this action becomes sosluggishthat it is impossible to execute a trill, Also moisture willaffect the leathers used in the action causing them to become soggy andstretch, and eventually causing them to rot, There are also numeroussprings and pins used in the action, which moisture will cause to rust,thus hindering the ready action 3.3 thereof and also quicklydeteriorating them. Another serious effect that moisture has in pianoactions is to affect the polished graphite bearing surfaces causing thevaction to become sluggish and stick.

A still further object of' In device is to prevent theaccumulation ofustin the action and Aby its use I am also enabledv to employinsecticides, such as moth balls or the like, to preserve the 4telt onthe ham mers and to prevent moths from attacking the same. f f

I have also discovered especially in grand pianos that the open space inwhich the hammers work acts. as a flue drawingin keys into the act-ionand thence passing it upward. My pad in addition to the advantagespointed out acts the same as a damper in a flue and retards thiscirculation Vto a great extent. i

My device is equally applicable to grand 0v moist air through the'spaces between the pianos, uprights, and player pianos, and in thelatter not only lperforms all of the func-v tions aforesaid but inadditiony protects the delicate parts ot' the player mechanism, that isit keeps the metallic parts from rusting and it preserves the bellows.In addition to the above features of my device, it is so constructed andarranged that when in position, it will not in any way affect the tonevolume or tone quality ol thel piano and there will be absolutely norattling due to the vibrations. In tact my device when once in positioncan remain there indefinitely. In fact it is my intention that thedevice remain there permanently withthe exception that it be removedwhen the instrument is to be tuned.

vI lravealso found by the use offmy device that it prevents rusting ofthe strings and that a piano, in which it is installed, will remain intune much longer than the ordinary piano.

My devicel is especially useful' in pianos in climates wherethere is agreat amount of moisture as by its use I have found that I can keep' apiano at practically factory conditions throughout the yeary and thecost of keeping the same in this condition is only at the expenditure ofa. small amount ofelectric current, the amount of expenditure beingagreat deal less than the amount necessary to replace rustysprings and`to overhaul the action periodically due to the prence of moisture, andin addition to this, as aforesaid, the pin block is always kept inperfect condition so that when the piano is oncetuned, there will` be noloosening Aof the pins in the'pin block due to the swelling andcontraction caused by the absorption and expulsion of the moisture.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan vie/wot my device; Fig. 2 is a similar viewY withthe top cover removed;

Fig'. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken. on the line 4:-4 of Fig. 2with the' ilap turned up; i y

Fig. 5is a fragmental top plan'viewofa piano with the-music rack removedshowing my device in position gr Fig. 6 is a longitudinal view of theforj' t fit1 In the construction of my device I employ a bottom member 8which is provided With retieulations or perforations 9. the bottommember S are longitudinally eX- tendingr loops 10 and 11 and laterallyeri-- tending loops 12 and 13. The laterally extending loops 12 and 13are ot such lengt-h as to abut the edges of the loops 10 and 1l. Theloops 10 and 11 have stiliening` rods 14. passed therethrough` Whilethe'loops 1.2 and 13 have stitfening rods 15 inserted in a similarmanner. These stitl'ening rods may ie of various material. They may bewooden dowels. They may be solid rubber strips, or they maybe rubbertubes with a metallic core, which core may be either solid or in theform of a spiral spring. The Yloops 10, 11, 12 and 13 are secured to thebottom-'member 8y by means of stitching 1G. Parallel to the loops 12 and13 and secured to the bottom S by means ot' stitching;r 17 are loops 1Sand 19. These loops, however, are ot less length than the loops 13 so astoprovide passageways 2O between one end and the loop 11 and passegeways21 between the opposite end of the loops and the loop 10. The bottom 8extends forward so as to form a short 'flap 22 to which are securedportions of a glove or Snap fastener The remainingT portion ot thesefasteners is secured to the flap 21 formed integral with the top 25. Thetop 25 is secured to the bottom 8 adjacent its rear edge by means otstitching 26 and along its `sides by means ot stitching 27, thestitohingi27, howeveig'being so inter rupted `as to permit the insertionot' the stiltening members 11i. Secured to the rear of the assembled padis a flap 2S, the purpose of which will be explained in vdetail later.`

It is. my intention to insert in.one` ot the compartments formed by theloops-1S and 19 and preferably in the center compartment an electricheating pad 29, which connecte ed by means ot electric conductors il()to any suitable 'source ot electrio energy.` This electric pad is acommercial article, which may be bought in the open market 'andV is atpresent used for medicinal. purposes to take the place ot a hot Waterbottle f and. is equipped with means whereby various temperatures may beobtained and since'this'article can be readily bought. in theopenmarket, its precise construction terms no part of my invention anchtherefore, will not be. described in det-ail. i

Referring to Figs. and 6. 31 `represents the ease ot agrand piano, E12the key hoard, and 33 the plate. The plate is provided with ribs 34which support a forward plate 35 thus leaving a space 36 `vin which thapiano action including` the hammers 3T and dampers 38. operate. 30 isone ot the tuning' pins and oneo't the strings.; JW-hen my device isused in ay grand piano, it is placed s0 that it rests on` top ottlicribs Bilanci als@ Secured to certain other portions of the plate andits securing means not shown.y which are common in the construction oitall pianos ot this type. The 'liront top cover designed to be foldedliiackward as illustrated and to remain in this position at all timesand the flap 2S is turned upi'fard as illnstrated in Fig. (iso as torest against the edge et the cover 4-2. ln this Way it will be seen thatthe entire open spare 'lt together with the'tuning pins Si) ron'ipletelyc0vered over thus eliminating dust and the possibility of'any foreignsubstances falling between the strings and enteringr the action. ln Fig.T Il?) represents the plate, 42 the piu block. 113 one of the strings,#14. a. hammer. .45 one ot the damp and fli a portion ot' the case. lnthe ce ruction ot pad used Afor en uprifgjht `vor a player, the tlap 28is made longer than tor a grand piano and hangs downward as illustratedin Fig. Teo as to be iietii'een the piano action or rather hammers andthe itront of the piano.

Itis. my intention, ot course, that the entire pad be made oit itabricsuch as felt or the like and with the bottom member recticulatedalthough it desired, the bottom member may be made oit open meshmaterial.

The operation ot my device is as follows:

lWhen the cover or pad-is received, the re inforeing' rods are lett ontand sont separate so 'that the first step'wvill be to slip thereintoreements into their proper loops. The electric heating. pad isnext placed in position and the flaps 22 and 24 secured togetherbymea'ns of the glove or snap fasteners. The` device is then placed inthe piano with the reticulated portion downward. and the electricityturned on. This heats the pad and in so doing heats the air between theeover andi -tbe bottom ot the piano pad., and on aecountotproviding thepassages 20 and 21 a lcirculation ot' air is permitted through thevarious compartments thereby insuringr heat# ed air throughout the pad,the air becoming heated naturally will absorb nufistnre and this isaccomplished by drawing: moisture through the retici:lat-ionsl Sl. ThemoistureI thus drawn through the reticulations in turn becomes warmed upvand passes upward Where it is absorbed by the top This top in turnbeeoming `heated trom the electric padand the heated air will dryr themoisture. trom it or rather from its 11j-iper surface and therefore in ashort time all o t' the moisture Within the vpiano ease or rather thataround the action will bey thusl driven or pmnped out and before it hastime to be absorbed by any otE the .working parts ot' the piano therebypreventing any swelling;v due to moisture or any-.Corrosion ot the metalparts :ind thus the piano action as well as the piu blos-.lc is alwaysmaintained in a substantially perfect condition. l

klt will also be noted from Figs. 6 and 7 that titl llt)

no part of the pad is in contact with the strings` or any of the workinglparts and therefore does not in any Way ati'ectthem. Furthermore whenplaying a grand piano, the flap 28 is folded doivn so that it will notinterfere With the tone by dampening it. IVhile in the uprightpractically all of the tone comes out through the bach as it is notcustomary under ordinary conditions to open either the front or top ofthe same and therefore its volume will not befdimin'ished in any Way bythe employment of my pad.

Myrpad is also very valuable in extremely dry climates as I have foundthat a piano is also effected by extreme dry air. This causes the actionto loosen up necessitating all screws to be tightened, theA pin blockcontracts causing the pin holes to Widen so that the pins will not holdthe tension of the strings. The same also applies to all center pinbearings and the key center of the balance rail and front guide pins,and as the dry air entersthe piano similar to the moisture, that isalong the spaces between the keys, the circulation of this dry airthrough the piano is also prevented by the damper effect of the pad. Inaddition I have discovered that in the eXtreme north Where pianos are inunheated rooms, frost will accumulate on the strings and metal parts andwhen a room is heated, the frost melts and causes the metal `parts torust.y

My device will prevent the accumulation of frost by absorbing themoisture and, on account of the heating pad, which is placed inside ofmy pad, the piano can be kept dry at all times and Without the necessityof eX- pending a large amount of fuel to keep an un-used room in whichthe piano may be placed Warm at all times. lieved that even without theelectric pad, the device Will keep the piano dry and prevent theaccumulation of frost for the reason that the circulation of cold airthrough the piano is greatly retarded, if not altogether stopped, by thepad. This also makes my device useful in shipping pianos as themanufacturer' can place a pad therein and protect the instrument While.in transit, and When moth balls are placed Within the pad, the top coverbeing imperforate will prevent the odor of the moth balls from beingdiffused throughout the room but at the same time the felt parts of thepiano will be pro tected thereby against the ravages of these pests andin addition to preventing the entrance of trinkets, such as pencils andthe like from falling in between the strings and into the action, theentrance of dust is also prevented to a great extent.

In extremely dry temperatures Where the action has become loosened onaccount of shrinkage of the various Wooden parts, I may place a damptowel or other cloth in the chamber of my pad thereby restoring mois- Infact it is be- Having fully described my invention, what Y l. claim is:H

l. ,A drying pad for pianos comprisingan absorbent member having aspaced apart top and bottom. reinforcing members interposed.

between the top and bottoni for stilfening said pad, and a flap securedto said pad along one of its longitudinal edges.

A drying pad `for pianos coi'nprising a member having a spaced apart topand bottom, reinforcing members located between said top and bottom Aforstidening said pad, a tlap secured to said pad along one of itslongitudinal edges, and means for supplying heat between said top andbottom.

3. A drying pad for pianos ycomprising a member having a. retieulatedbottom and a top spaced apart therefrom, reinforcing members removablylocated between said top and bottom for stiffening said pad, and a fla-psecured along one longitudinal edge of said pad.

et. A drying pad for pianos comprising a.

member having a reticulated bottom and a top in spaced apart relation toeach other, reinforcing members for stilfening said pad, a flap securedto said pad along one of its longitudinal edges, and means forintroducing heat Within the pad and between said top and bottom. n 5. Adrying pad for pianos comprising a member having a reticulated bottomand a top spaced apart from each other, reinforcing members forstiifening said pad, means for dividing said pad into a plurality ofcommunicating chambers, and a flap secured along one of the longitudinaledges of said pad.

6. A drying pad for pianos comprising a member having a reticulatedbottom and a top spaced apart from each other, reinforcing members f'orstiiiening said pad, mea-ns for dividing said pad into a plurality ofcommunicating chambers, a flap secured along one ofthe longitudinaledges of said pad. and means for introducing heat into one of saidchambers.

7. A drying pad for pianos rectangular in shape and composed ofabsorbent material and being of a length substantially the length'of theinside of a piano casing, and a flexible flap secured along vone of theside margins of said pad, said Hap being more flexible than the pad. n n

8. A drying pad for pianos composed of librous absorbent materiel beingof :i size to @over the pin blocl: end hammer und damper action of epiano, und a flexible flap secured along one edge oit seid pad forrestricting the circulation ot air over sind around said hammer enddm'nper notion und the pin bloel.

9. A drying pad for pianos rectangular in shape and Composed otlAbsorbent material and being of a length substantially the length olthe inside of :.1 piano easing'`v u fleXt ble liep .secured alone` oneof the side inergins of said pmb seid liep being;V more flexible thanthe pad, and means for stilleningT seid pad.

10. A drying pad 'for pianos composed of an upper and a ,lower layer ofabsorbent Inziterial, seid layers beine; secured together @long threeedges, reinforcingT nieinbers eX- tending laterally land longitudinallyof said pad for Stilfening the sanne end spacing the layers apartwhereby pockets are it'orniied be* tween the layers, means carried bythe unse- Cured edges of said layers so that they can be detaehablysecured together and access had to said pockets, and ay flexible flapsecured along,r the edge of said pad opposite seid last mentioned edges.

ll. A drying pad for pianos composed of nn ilniiertornte upper and nperforated lower layer of absorbent material rectangular in shape, saidlnyers being' secured together along' three edges. reinforcingr membersex tending laterally and loilgitntlilinlly of said psd 'for stillieningthe same and spacing the layers apart whereby pockets are formed betweenthe layers, means carried by the nnsectnfed edges of said layers so thatthey can be deteehnbly secured together end access had to said pockets,and n liexible flap secured along the edge of said pad opposite seidlast mentioned edges.

In testimony whereof' I here ultixed my signature.

FREDERICK C. BILLINGS.

